SNL: Trump vs. Aliens

This weekend's edition of Saturday Night Live had some great moments, and Scarlett Johansson is awesome, as always. But I can't help being a little disappointed by this and last weeks' episodes. With so very much material to choose from, they just came up a little light, in my opinion. And by giving us Melissa McCarthy not once but twice as Press Secretary Sean Spicer, they set our hopes too high.

Still, there were choice bits. Such as this fairly spot-on critique of Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin), if he had to face a real crisis. It would go pretty much exactly like this.

SNL Casts Kellyanne Conway in Glenn Close Fatal Attraction Role

Wonderfully inventive, weaving bits of Fatal Attraction and Death Becomes Her, maybe even a taste of The Thing. Appropriate for Trump flack, Kellyanne Conway.

In Case You Missed It: The Absolute Gold That Was Saturday Night Live This Weekend

Emmy worthy.

So, yeah. I'm so mouth agape at the endless parade of bizarre and freakish happenings emanating from our nation's capital, I've completely neglected the blog since the end of January! Sorry, I've been sitting slack jawed, disbelieving, unable to focus even on The Rachel Maddow Show, reading my Twitter feed, bouncing between devices and screens, trying to keep up, commenting in little bursts on social media.

It's nuts. Quite simply nuts. Evidence abounds, but this past weekend's Kristen Stewart-hosted Saturday Night Live stands as a testament to the treasure trove of material they have to work with. Top of the list, of course, is Melissa McCarthy's surprise turn as Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Enjoy.

SNL: Vladimir Putin Addresses America, Kellyanne Conway, and More

I haven't posted a lot since the Trumpenfurher's inauspicious inauguration, but thought I'd better get these very funny Saturday Night Live posts up for Monday. More to say later. I'll be back!

Entire episode below, choice bits are the opening, the monologue,Conway! and Weekend Update.

Alec Baldwin's "Donald Trump" Once Again Riles @RealDonaldTrump

Donald Trump is a lot of things, and may actually require the invention of several new negative adjectives (and other parts of speech). But one of his best/worst qualities is his thin-skinnedness. And also, naturally, his predictability, at least in his knee-jerk Twitter responses. In this case, he's having another freakout about Alec Baldwin's Saturday Night Live impression of him, and also in this case, the parody was SPOT ON.

.@NBCNews is bad but Saturday Night Live is the worst of NBC. Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2017

SNL: Kellyanne Conway with Jake Tapper on CNN

This week's Saturday Night Live didn't tap Alec Baldwin for his Donald Trump impression. Instead, shining cast member of the moment, Kate McKinnon, does her best Kellyanne Conway impression, blithely spinning away the nonsense that is the daily news from the Trump transition team. Very funny when it's not scary. Bryan Cranston shines as the natural pick for Trump's DEA.

SNL: The World Through Donald Trump's Eyes

Perfect. This filmed bit from this weekend's Saturday Night Live shows the
world from Donald Trump's perspective, as many of us imagine he really lives it.
A world where his reflection shows a magnificently handsome visage, massive hands
(made even funnier by the prop hands put over guest host's John Cena's already
massive hands), great hair, an adoring throng of supporters. . .and when reality
creeps in, he starts to get sleepy, starts to tune out, starts losing interest.

His hands shrink, words become noise. Until someone (like Kellyanne Conway or Mike Pence) struggle to bring him back to attention. Really masterfully done,
funny. . .and sad. Sad.

SNL Skewers Post-Election/Pre-President Trump

Image from source, NBC

Saturday Night Live's first Trump depiction since the election is pretty funny, rightly skewering the man himself (clueless and in over his head), Kellyanne Conway (guiltily feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders) and Mike Pence (stiff and unpleasant). But I have to say, Alec Baldwin seems a lot less into it. It's actually surprising that he appeared, since he'd said he was hanging up the wig. My guess is that he agreed based on the number of returning SNL vets in this week's show, Kristin Wiig's hosting, and just putting a bow on the depiction. I'm betting it's back to Darrell Hammond in the future, or or some new cast member.

SNL: Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton at the Piano

Image from NBC

Saturday Night Live had a big challenge this week, in how to respond to the surprise election of Donald Trump. Like much of America, it was fairly clear that SNL thought Hillary would win it, and actress Kate McKinnon probably saw some fairly good job security in that. But, lamentably (except for comedy), Trump improbably won. Unfortunately, tragedy+time=comedy, and it's too soon for an awful lot of people. So, how to open the show, one that for every new episode featured McKinnon as Hillary and Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump?

This was their answer, incorporating a tribute to the late Leonard Cohen, and his classic song, Hallelujah. I'll go out on a limb, and predict an Emmy for McKinnon. And for the record, Baldwin has stated that he doesn't wish to play Trump in the future. Which isn't surprising, though if Trump becomes more comedy than tragedy down the line, I'd expect a repeat performance.

SNL Takes on Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump Debate Night #2

This is probably not their funniest take on the subject matter, but the stalking to the Jaws theme is pretty great.

SNL Season Finale Gives Us One More Hillary & Bernie Skit (with Larry David)

By the time Saturday Night Live returns for Season 42, the Hillary Clinton/Bernie Sanders fight will be far in the rear-view, and we'll be wrapping up the general election, one that promises terror for both sides. Seriously, when is the last time both candidates terrified the other side's constituents?

So, let's wring a few more laughs out of Larry David's Sanders. There are still plenty to be had.

SNL: Hillary in New York

I already voted for Hillary Clinton in the Ohio primary, but even I can find humor in this bit, particularly since Kate McKinnon's Hillary impression keeps getting better. And there's some genuinely funny stuff in here.

SNL: Hillary Clinton Spoof Ad

Hillary starts to take on more and more traits from Bernie Sanders to appeal more to millennials. Funny, and I'm sure the #FeelTheBern crowd will love it. But lets not forget, this is what Bernie started out to do. At the beginning, nobody thought he was a contender, but all agreed, it would get Mrs. Clinton to address his issues. Well, here ya go!

SNL: Voters for Trump Ad

Subtle? No. Funny? Yes!

SNL: Trump the Vulgarian

SNL: Hillary Sings "I Can't Make You Love Me"

Hillary Clinton's biggest obstacle is that 25 years in politics creates a lot of baggage. And all along,  whether with her husband, or individually,  the media has been complicit in making everything about potential scandal, or "how x hurts Clinton." Its reason #397 why I find the notion of "liberal media bias" so laughable. But it has fostered a feeling many have toward Hillary: they're suspicious of her, even if they don't know why. Saturday Night Live has put this odd factoid to song, with Hillary singing it.

SNL: Bernie Sanders and Larry David as Bernie Sanders

Good stuff, good episode, actually. I might have enjoyed it more, if I'd ever watched Curb our Enthusiasm, I suppose.

SNL: Nobody LIkes Ted Cruz (Except Iowa)

Saturday Night Live continues with the (entirely on-target) meme that Ted Cruz is unlikable, both visually and on every other level, despite winning in Iowa. And Taran Killam is still entirely too attractive to be playing Cruz.

SNL: Tina Fey Returns as Sarah Palin (with Darrell Hammond as Trump)

Image from source, MediaIte

As hoped by millions, after famous-for-almost-no-reason Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump for president, Saturday Night Live alum returned as everyone's least favorite hockey mom. Needless to say, Fey was terrific. And Darrell Hammond seems to have taken over the Trump role from Taran Killam for good.

[Excerpt]

Tina Fey Returns As Sarah Palin to Endorse Donald Trump in SNL Cold Open

. . .Shining comedy star and SNL alum Tina Fey returned to send up former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin‘s endorsement of Donald Trump earlier this week. . .

Read more (with video) at: MediaIte

SNL Skewers 6th GOP Presidential Debate

Tonight may be a Democratic debate, but it's mostly the GOP slate that continues to provide fodder for Saturday Night Live. They've still got Darrell Hammond doing Donald Trump to allow Taran Killam to be Ted Cruz. Which is curious since creepy Cruz probably ought not be played by such an attractive actor. On the other hand, finding a face like Cruz's (or trying to imitate it) can't be an easy task. . .